Lead change pencil



March 11, O. GOSSWEILER ETAL LEAD CHANGE PENCIL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVEN'O/QS OSKAR GOSSWE/LER MANFRED GOSSWE/LER Filed Nov. 19. 1954 1 A TTORN-EYS March 11, 1958 f o. Gosswl-:ILER Erm. 2,826,173Y

LEAD CHANGE PENCIL '1 f Filed Nov. 19. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i i i 4 1 l OSKAR GOSSWE/LER MANFRED GUSSWE/LER A TTORNE YS United States Patent O LEAD CHANGE. PENCIL Oskar Gossweiler and Manfred Gossweiler, Niefern, Baden, Germany, assignors to Adolf Waldmann, Pforzheim, Germany, a firm Application November 19, 1954, Serial No. 470,072

Claims priority, application Germany November 25, 1953 7 Claims.A (Cl. 120-14.5)

The present invention relates to lead-change-pencils,

and is particularly directed to a four-color-pencil provided with a slotless outer jacket, with a mechanism for the forward feeding and return movement of the lead-carriers, and with an end-cap through the actuation of which the forward feeding and return movement are effected. It relates more particularly to a pencil of the aforesaid kind, wherein there is positioned in the slotless outer jacket an inner casing in which the spring-loaded lead-carriershanks are enclosed, and in which the feed-pins of the lead-carrier-shanks are guided in slots extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, whereby, upon movement of the end-cap, the feed-pins slide along on a curve-casing, likewise accommodated Within the outer jacket, and are thus moved into and out of writing position. There are already known to the art lead-change-pencils in which the spring-loaded lead-carrier-shanks are arranged in a casing connected with the end-cap, and in which lthe feed-pins of the lead-carrier-shanks are guided in slots of the casing, whereby, upon rotation of the cap, the feed-pins slide along a slide path or curve provided on a stationary curve-casing arranged in the outer jacket and thus move the lead-carriers into and out of writing position. However, in this known form of construction the lead-carriers can be locked only in one forward position, which simultaneously serves as writing position and as position for the regulation of the lead-carriers and for the insertion of new leads into the lead-carriers. Consequently, the lead-carrier in its writing position has to project from the outer jacket to such an extent that it is unsatisfactorily supported in writing position and unduly exposed to damaging.

Furthermore, in the multi-color pencils of known construction, it is only possible to rotate the color-change device in one sense, either right or left-hand, so that, when for instance, one color out of three or four is to be selected, the device must be rotated in that sense until the desired color registers with the writing position.

It is an object of our invention to provide a lead-change pencil wherein a lead carrier is brought into a writing position close to the mouth of the pencil jacket at the l pencil tip, while the lead carrier is further advanced out of the mouth of the jacket to a second position relative to the mouth of the pencil jacket, which position is further spaced frorn the jacket mouth, and in which position the lead in the lead carrier can be adjusted or a consumed lead can be replaced by a new one.

It is another object of our invention to provide a leadchange pencil devised as a multi-color pencil which permits the selection of each color directly, at will, by either a left-hand or a right-hand rotation of the turn-cap of the pencil.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing, in a lead-change pencil, the aforementioned curve casing with a slide path, or cam, which ascends from a point of deepest recession, or lowermost point, uniformly on `both sides of that lower- 2,826,173 Patented Mar. l1, 1958 ICC most point to a point most advanced toward the writing tip of the pencil, which most advanced point is preferably arranged on the side of the curve casing opposite the aforesaid lowermost point and corresponds to the writing position of the lead. Furthermore, according to another main feature of the invention, the curve casing is provided with a longitudinal slot extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, which slot opens at the aforesaid most advanced point of the cam on the curve casing and houses a feed finger adapted to move the lead back and forth between the aforesaid writing position and a position still further advanced relative to the tip of the pencil, in which further advanced position the lead can be adjusted with regard to its position in its lead carrier, or it can be replaced by a new one.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which an embodiment of the invention has been shown by way of example. However, we wish to say that the invention is not conned to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appending claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the same reference numerals in all of the several figures,

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional View of the leadchange-pencil (four-color-pencil) with one of its leadcarriers in writing position; y

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail View of the pencil seen from the opposite side of that shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view shown in a position somewhat displaced with respect to that of the illustration of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view showing the forward ends of the lead-carriers in a position displaced from that of Fig. l for degrees;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that of Fig. l showing the lead-carrier in its second ultimate feed position (lead-regulating-position) Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line VI--Vl of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line VII-VII of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on line VIII- VIII of Fig. l;

Fig. 9 is a front-view, partly in section, of the feedcasing;

Fig. l0 is a top-view of the feed-casing, partly in section, on line X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a top-view of the feed-linger;

Fig. 'l2 is a front-view of the feed-finger;

Fig. 13 is a side-view of the feed-nger;

Fig. 14 is a layout of the curve-path of the lead-changepencil with the lead-carriers and feed-pins in the position of Fig. l;

Fig. l5 is a layout of the curve-path of the leadchange-pencil with the lead-carriers and feed-pins in the position of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 2 designates the casing of the lead-carrier-shanks, which casing 2 is rigidly connected via an intermediate casing 3 with the outer jacket 5 terminating in the tapered tip or front portion 4 of the mechanical pencil. At the opposite end of the pencil, the curve-casing 6 is rigidly connected via a surrounding casing 7 with the guide-casing 8 for the magazine 9 of the leads. By means of its polygonal shape, the magazine 9 is (see Fig. 6) simultaneously rotatably connected with the guidecasing S and the curve-casing 6, as well as the feed-casing 10 and the turn-cap 11 as will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter. The magazine 9 is provided at its rear- 3 end kwith a threaded portion Al2, onto which the end cap 15 Ii's screwed after mounting the clip-ring 13 with clip 14 on the portion 12.

Upon rotation of the turn-cap 1.1-in one direction `or the other-and.consequently also of the curve-casing 6, 'the lead-carriers 16a, b, c, d are, through sliding of their feed-,pins 17a, b, c, d along the slide-path 18 ot' the curve-casing 6, successively fed into operating (writing) position against Vthe pressure of the return-springs 2d surrounding the lead-carrier-shanks 19 (see Figs. l and 14). This -is accomplished by the feature that the slidepath 13 of the curve-casing 6 .ascends on both sides in uniform manner from Vitslowerrnost point 22, positioned preferably opposite the supporting .notch for the leancarrier-feed-pin 17 located in writing position, up to said supporting .place .Z1 for `the -feed-pin .17 (see Figs. l, 2, 14, 15,). The feed-.pins 17 slide in longitudinal slots 33 of the casing 2 of the lead-carrier-shanks.

The curve-casing 6 is `provided with a longitudinal slot 23 extending ,paraliel to the 'longitudinal axis of the pencil yand terminating in the pointed end of the slide-path iS. 'Mounted in the slot 2'3 is a feed-linger 2d, which at its rforward end is devised a supporting notch for the leadcarrier-feed-pin 17 located in operating v(writing) position, and which at its rear-end is provided with a shoulderpiece '25 adapted to engage ina corresponding opening 26 of the vfeed-casing 10 surrounding the curve-casing 6 (see Figs. 9 to 13).

vThrough pressure exerted upon the yend-cap 15, the lead-carrier 16a (Figs. l and i4) located in writing position can be moved, via the `feed-casing 1t), the feed-finger 24 and the feed-.pin V17a resting against the feed-finger 2d, into va second ultimate lfeedposition (lead-regulating-position--see Figs. and l5), whereby the curve-casing 6 remains in its position of rest, Vand whereby the feedfinger 24 slides in the longitudinal slot 23 of the curvecasing 6.

Arranged in the rear-end of the pencil is a compression spring 127 which during the forward feeding into the second ultimate feed position is likewise tensioned and which, when the pressure upon the end cap ceases, effects in cooperation with the return-spring `pertaining to the 'feed pin 17a the automatic backward slipping of the advanced pencil parts into their rearward position and therewith the return of the lead carrier 16a into writing position (Fig. l). The `compression spring 27 surrounds preferably the magazine l9 enclosing the pencil leads .and 'bears at one end against a collar 28 provided at the magazine 9 .and at rits other end against -a stop 29 formed by a rear-end shoulder of the guide-casing 8. This shoulder 29 protrudes with a nose 29a (Figs. l and 5) .into a longitudinal groove 9a of magazine 9, thus serving as guiding means for the magazine 9 and .as rearward holding means for the casing 2 inclos'ing the lead-carrier-shanks. .Similar noses 16a and 11a are provided on the feed-.casing 10 and the turn-cap 11 (see Figs. 6 and 9). These noses protrude into the groove 9a of magazine 9 and Isecure kjoint rotation of magazine 9 with casing 10 and turn-cap 11. Casing 10 and turncap 11 are also rigidly held in position on the magazine 9 between the collar screwed to the magazine thread 12 from below, and end 'cap 15 screwed on the same thread 12 from above parts 10 and 11. Thereby the lpressure orpush connection between these parts and the magazine 9 for the pencil-leads is established. The collar 28 may consist of a ring 'screwed onto the threaded portion 12 of the magazine 9.

Consequently, in the lead-change pencil according to the invention, there can be distinguished a rotary displacemen of parts relative to the pencil yjacket S, which serves to 'bring a selected lead into writingposition, and a pressure displacement .or push displacement for advancing the 'le'ad 'from the writing position to a lead-regulating position. 'Rotated are the parts which are connected with `each other :for simultaneous rotation due-to agroovenose connection between them, i. e. the turn-Cap l1, the feed casing 1t), the magazine 9 with end cap 15, the guide casing 8, as well as cover casing '7 and the curve casing 6, the latter two being rigidly connected to the guide casing 8, and finally the feed finger 24, because it is housed in the slot 23 in curve casing 6, as well as in the opening 26 of the feed casing 1t? and therefore follows the rotation of these parts.

On the other hand, in 4the feed movement toward the lead-regulating position (shown in Fig. 5), there merely participate the following parts: turn-cap il, feed casing lil, magazine 9 with end cap 15, and the feed finger 24, the latter because its shoulder piece 25 is housed in the opening 26 of feed casing 10 and follows the movement of the latter toward the pencil tip. Parts 3, 7 and 6 do not participate in this movement because the nose E9n of the guide casing 8 is longitudinally displaceable in the groove 9a of `magazine 9, -and consequentiy does not follow 'the movement yof `the latter toward the pencil tip.

While in its iirst advanced yposition as shown in Fig. l, .the ylead Icarrier :16a occupies a position close to, and just .protruding from vthe mouth of the pencil jacket, i. e. its writing position, the same lead occupies a second, ultimate position (shown .in Fig. 5) more advanced out of Lsaid jacketmouth 'than said writing position. In this second, ultimate position, the lead -in the lead carrier can be exchanged `or :a consumed lead can be replaced by a new'one.

The secondiultimate vfeed position (see Fig. 5) is limited bythe 'stop :otreredbythe rear-end 31vof the casing '2 enclosing zthe lead-.carrier-shanks to the bottom 30 of the magazine 9 sliding in the guide-casing 8, while the rearward positionfof restis-limited by thestop offered bythe overlapping `rear-end 29 fof kthe guide-casing 8 to the bottom 30 'of .the .magazine 9. The casing 2 enclosing the lead-:carrier-shanks is rsupported in the rear-end of the pencil for lexample by means of a ring 39 fastened to the icasing .2 :and resting `against the rear-edge 32 of the ,curve-casing 6.

The return-,springs 20 bear at both ends against collars or abutments rof'which the rearward ones 33 surround the feedfpins.1'7., While'ithe .forward abutrnents 34 slidably surroundingl Shanks f19.'rest against `the bottom 3S arranged in the V'casing .2 lenclosing the lead-carrier-shanks. The bottom 35 .is gprovided Awith slots 36 for the rextension therethrough of :the lead-carrier-.shanks 19, and is secured in position by :the k'inwardly turned ange 37 provided at the `lower ledge -of the casing 2 of the lead-carriershanks.

The .return springs 20 .thus zactupon the bottom .3S of casing .-2 :and zurge fthe :latter in the .direction toward the tip yof the pencil.

The v'feed-pins 17 may in simple Amanner 4be .formed through outward bending :of the rear-ends .of the leadcarrier-Shanks y19 (-,seeFig 7i).

Whatwe claim=as new Iand :desire ,to1secure byLettcrs Patent of the United States is:

1.'.In a vvchange-color pencil ,having .a ,slotless outer .jacket,.a ycap rotatably and depressably overlapping :said jacket; a plurality of lead carriers, `each comprising `a spring-urged `lead-carrier lshank .and a feed pin at the free end `offsaidshank, la.lead-carrier.advance and return mechanism comprising; .a rst casing rigidly mounted in said outer jacket, sairlfirst `casing enclosing said leadcarrier Shanks, andhaving agplurality of slots .extending inparallel with the .longitudinal axis of the pencil, each of which slots guides one feed-pin therein; a curve casing displaceably mounted .about-said -rst casing, `said curve casing l'having a curved slide path ascending from a point-of deepest 4recession in said casing uniformly on both .sides .from `said .deepest recessed `point .to a most advanced .point .ontsaid-,curve casing opposite the Aformer point; :there .being `van'elongated slot in` said .curved casing extending from .said most advanced s point l.parallel `to the longitudinal axis of the pencil means for connecting said curve casing with said cap for rotating the" former simultaneously with the latter, thereby causing said slide path independently of the sense of rotation `of said cap to guide the feed pin of one of said lead carriers toward said most advanced point on said slide path which corresponds to the Writing position of the lead of the respective lead carrier, further comprising a feed finger displaceably arranged in said elongated slot, said feed finger being provided at its one end with a supporting notch for the feed pin of that lead carrier which is in writing position, and at its other end witha shoulder piece; a feed casing surrounding said curve casing displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, said shoulder piece of said feed finger being coupled to said feed casing; and means connecting said feed casing with said cap for rotary as well as longitudinal displacement therewith.

2. In a change-color pencil having a slotless outer jacket, a cap rotatably and depressably overlapping said jacket; a plurality of lead carriers, each comprising a spring-urged lead-carrier shank and a feed pin at the free end of said shank, a lead-carrier advance and return mechanism comprising; a first casing rigidly mounted in saidl outer jacket, said first casing enclosing said lead.

carrier Shanks and having a plurality of slots extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pencil,`each of which slots guides one feed pin therein; a curve casing displaceably mounted about said first casing, said curve casing having a curved slide path ascending from a point of deepest recession in said casing uniformly on both sides from said deepest recessed point to a most advanced point on said curve casing opposite the former point; there being an elongated slot in said curved casing extending from said most advanced point parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, means for connecting said curve casing with said cap for rotating the former simultaneously with the latter, thereby causing said slide path independently of the sense of rotation of said cap to guide the feed pin of one of said lead carrier toward said most advanced point on said slide path which corresponds to the writing position of the lead of the respective lead carrier, further comprising a feed finger displaceably arranged in said elongated slot, said feed finger being provided at its one end with a supporting notch for the feed pin of that lead carrier which is in writing position, and at its other end with a shoulder piece; a feed casing surrounding said curve casing displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, said feed casing having an opening of a shape corresponding to that of said shoulder piece of said feed finger, said shoulder piece engaging said opening.

3. In a changecolor pencil having a spotless outer jacket, a cap rotatably and depressably overlapping said jacket; a plurality of lead carriers, each comprising a spring-urged lead-carrier shank and a feed pin at the free end of said shank, a lead-carrier advance and return mechanism comprising; a first casing rigidly mounted in said outer jacket, said first casing enclosing said lead-` carrier Shanks and having a plurality of slots extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pencil, each of which slots guides one feed pin therein; a curve casing displaceably mounted about said first casing, said curve casing having a curved slide path ascending from a point of deepest recession in said casing uniformly on both sides from said deepest recessed point to a most advanced point on said curve casing opposite the former point; there being an elongated slot in said curved casing extending from said most advanced point parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, means for connecting said curve casing with said cap for rotating the former simultaneously with the latter, thereby causing said slide path independently of the sense of rotation of said cap to guide the feed pin of one of said lead carrier toward said most advanced point on said slide path which corre- ,6 ssponds, to the writing position of the lead of the respective lead carrier, further comprising a feed finger Adisplacefablyarranged in said elongated slot, said feed finger being 'provided at its one end with a supporting notch for the feed pin of that lead carrier which is in writing position, and at its other end with a shoulder piece; a feed casing surrounding said curve casing displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, said shoulder piece of said feed finger being coupled to said feed casing; and means connecting said feed casing with said cap for rotary as well as longitudinal displacement therewith so that said cap, when depressed relative to said jacket, moves said feed casing and in connection therewith said feed finger in said elongated slot of said curve casing in the direction of said jacket, with said curve casing remaining stationary, and thereby moves the feed pin of the lead carrier engaging said notch of said feed finger from the writing position to a position further advanced in the direction from the cap toward said jacket.

4. A mechanism as described in claim 3 wherein said means connecting said cap and said curve casing comprise a compression spring urging said cap away from said curve casing, and wherein a return spring is mounted on each of said lead-carrier Shanks, the return spring on the shank of the lead carrier in writing position urging the feed pin on that shank into engagement with the notch of said feed pin, thereby cooperating with said compression spring in returning said feed pin from said advanced position to said Writing position when depression of said cap toward said jacket ceases.

5. In a change-color pencil having a spotless outer jacket, a cap rotatably and depressably overlapping said jacket; a plurality of lead carriers, each comprising a spring-urged lead-carrier shank and a feed pin at the free end of said shank, a lead-carrier advance and return mechanism comprising; a first casing rigidly mounted in said outer jacket, said first casing enclosing said leadcarrier shanks and having a plurality of slots extending in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pencil, each of which slots guides one feed pin therein; a curve casing displaceably mounted about said first casing, said curve casing having a curved slide path ascending from a point of deepest recession in said casing uniformly on both sides from said deepest recessed point to a most advanced point on said curve casing opposite the former point; there being an elongated slot in said curved casing extending from said most advanced point parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, means for connecting said curve casing with said cap for rotating the former simultaneously with the latter, thereby causing said slide path independently of the sense of rotation of said cap to guide the feed pin of one of said lead carriers toward said most advanced point on said slide path which corresponds to the writing position of the lead of the respective lead carrier, further comprising a feed finger displaceably arranged in said elongated slot, said feed finger being provided at its one end with a supporting notch for the feed pin of that lead carrier which is in writing position, and at its other end with a shoulder piece; a feed casing surrounding said curve casing displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pencil, said shoulder piece of said feed finger being coupled to said feed casing; and means connecting said feed casing with said cap for rotary as Well as longitudinal displacement therewith, said means connecting said cap and said curve casing comprising a compression spring urging said cap away from said curve casing, a return spring mounted on each of said leadcarrier shanks, a lead magazine rigidly attached to the inner end surface of said cap and having an external threading, an inwardly threaded collar being screwed on to said magazine and securing the same in said cap; a guide casing rigidly connected to said curve casing and adapted for guiding one end portion of said first casing, said guide casing having an internally flanged shoulder portion surrounding said magazine and slidably guiding 'asso-ws the same, and means connecting -said kguide casing with said magazine for simultaneous rotation with said cap, said compression spring resting with lone end upon Ysaid shoulder portion of said guide casing and with its other end against said collar.

6. A mechanism as described in claim `5, wherein said cap, when depressed relative to said jacket, moves said feed casing and in connection therewith said feed finger in said elongated slot of said curve casing in the direction of said jacket, with said curve casing remaining stationary, and thereby moves the feed pin of the ,lead carrier engaging said notch of said feed finger from the writing position to a position further advanced Vin -the direction from the cap toward said jacket, and wherein a bottom plate is provided on said magazine, which plate is adapted to abut against the end of said yfirst casing facing said magazine when said cap is 'being depressed, thereby limiting the movement of said feed pin from the writing position to said further advanced position.

7. A mechanism as described in claim 5 wherein said cap, when depressed relative to said jacket, moves said feed casing and in connection therewith said feed finger in said elongated recess of said curve casing in the direction of said jacket, with said curve casing remaining stationary, and thereby moves the feed pin `of the .lead carrier engaging said notch of said feed finger from the writing position to a position further advanced in the direction from the cap toward said jacket, and wherein a bottom plate is provided on said magazine, which plate is adapted to abut against the end of said first casing facing said magazine when said cap is 'being depressed, thereby limiting the movement of said feed pin from the writing position to said further advanced position, and which bottom plate is further adapted to abut adjacent said shoulder portion of said guide casing, thereby limiting the return movement of said cap under the effect of said compression spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,176,124 Durrler Oct. 17, 19.39

FOREIGN PATENTS 682,179 Germany Oct. 9, 1939 699,593 Germany Dec. 2, 1940 444,447 Italy Jan. 21, 1949 509,871 Belgium Mar. 31, 1952 kOTHER REFERENCES Eagle Pencil Co. (Trademark), 70,598, September 15, 

